The Doll's House

Kate hesitated. O’Connor kept his silence, not wanting to force her.

‘Okay, I’ll do it. What else can you tell me?’

‘Give me a minute, Kate. Our men are exiting the premises. We’ll know more once we talk to them.’

‘I’ll head over there.’

‘No, I’ll get an unmarked car to pick you up. You’ll make better time. The road is closed off at both ends. I’ll get a couple of the guys to meet you at the Ringsend side.’

‘Okay.’



Morgan and Quinn exited the premises with the ease and controlled silence that had been trained into their every muscle. Dressed in dark navy, with narrow yellow stripes on their upper jacket and lower sleeves, they held their armed rifles high and tight to the chest. Their expressions gave nothing away. Their task now was to report to Maloney on what they had found inside number 74. It was Morgan, the older and more experienced of the two, who did most of the talking.

‘We have a man down. Multiple stab wounds to the upper chest, possible drowning. The body is submerged in a bathtub on the second floor. The food hatch entry point is still in the kitchen. Internal examination shows the shaft reaches up to the top of the building. All areas are clear except for the attic – we heard a minimum of two voices from inside, male and female. Main access to the attic is via an upstairs bedroom at the rear of the building.’

O’Connor asked the first question. ‘The man down, Morgan, can you describe him?’

‘Victim is short in stature, mid-sixties, moderately overweight, black-grey hair.’

‘Becon,’ O’Connor muttered, below his breath, more to himself than Maloney, or the two men in front of him.

Maloney didn’t hesitate with his instructions. ‘Morgan, I need you both to go back in there. I want you to assume a position at the height of the shaft, near the attic joists. Hopefully you’ll get a visual into the attic space from there.’

‘We won’t need much of an opening, sir.’ Again Morgan did the talking.

Maloney looked at both his men. ‘It’s an old building. I’m hoping we’ll get lucky.’ Morgan and Quinn nodded in acknowledgement, as Maloney continued, ‘Quinn, I want you to be the first to take position up above. When you’re in situ, and have a clear view and aim within the upper space of the house, give Morgan the signal. I’ll send the negotiator in once I know you’re both in position. The aim is to get out of here with no more loss of life, but if things take a turn, bring the male down. Is that clear?’

Again they nodded, then turned their backs on Maloney and O’Connor to re-enter the building.

‘Maloney, who are you getting to do the negotiations?’

‘Anne Holt. She’s already on her way, and she’s one hell of a negotiator. I don’t need to tell you, O’Connor, if the guy up there is psychotic, the odds are stacked against this having a happy ending.’

‘Will the sharp-shooters aim to kill?’

‘They’re armed with SSG69 sniper rifles, and SIG pistols. There’s a floating corpse inside, and based on what you’ve told me, it’s not his first killing. In such close proximity to the hostage, an injured killer is dangerous, but we do have options.’

‘Exactly what are they?’

‘Things changed a couple of years back, when we had a siege, not unlike this one.’ Maloney paused, but kept his gaze firmly on number 74. ‘It went badly wrong. There were mental difficulties involved there too. Ever since, our shooters are also armed with non-lethal weapons, Taser, both close and distant. The cartridges can reach a target twenty feet away. They’ve twelve-gauge shotguns too, again non-lethal, but they will take a target down, and keep him down long enough for us to get inside and render him harmless. But make no mistake, O’Connor, I’ll be making the judgement call, and I won’t be sitting on the fence waiting for any sideshow.’

‘Right, I’m going to update Kate Pearson. If anyone can get this bloody mess to a safe conclusion, hopefully she and Anne Holt can. I’m going to ring Matthews too. I want to let him know it looks like Alister Becon has taken a hit.’

‘Okay, let’s get this show on the road.’ Maloney walked away from O’Connor to brief the remainder of his team, including Anne Holt, who was now waiting at the ERU van, parked further up the street.

‘Matthews, O’Connor here. Are you doing the McKay interview?’

‘No, Quigley and Patterson are.’

‘Alister Becon looks to have taken a hit.’

‘Shit.’

‘I know it’s not good news, but tell Quigley and Patterson to let McKay know the score. It might make him more talkative.’ O’Connor hung up and phoned Kate. Everything now depended on ERU, including Anne Holt, and whatever Kate could bring to the table.





Clodagh